Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34886, Nathaniel French, Continental Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental Mass.
French, Nathaniel
S. 34886
CONTENTS

4835
Massachusetts Roll
Nathaniel French
Massachusetts Line - Private - Capt. Parker
In the army of the United States during the Revolutionary War
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the 25 th of March 1818 -
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 th of Dec r 1818 and sent to Stephen Minot Esq r Haverhill Mass
Arrears to 4th of Sept r 1818. 5 m. \frac{7}{31} + \frac{4}{30} - 42:06 Semi-ann. all'ee ending 4 th March 1819. - 48: -
$ 90:06
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Since death
in co. Middlesex.
He died Nov. 29,
1834
(from C.B.)

204
Nathl French
[Faint, mirrored handwriting from the reverse side of the page, including the word "French" and several horizontal lines.]

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
MIDDLESEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Concord, within and for the County of Middlesex, on the second Monday of June A. D. 1827
Before the Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Esquire, Chief Justice, and
WILLIAM WETMORE, and } Associate Justices STEPHEN MINOT, Esquires, } of said Court.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Nathanial French resident at Concord in said Circuit, who is named in Pension Certificate No. 4835 now in his possession, of which the following is a true copy, to wit,
“WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.”
“I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Nathanial French late a Private in the army of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of eight dollars per month, to commence on the twelfth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen . “Given at the War Office of the United States, this twelfth day of December one thousand eight hundred and eighteen . J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War.”
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
  11 Blue set of old blacksmiths tools $35.00   1 cow 15.00   1 pig 7.00   old hoe & an old axe 0.75   stove iron kettle & iron kettle 2.00   iron pot & iron kettle 1.75   1 doz old chairs 2.00   4 old tables & looking glass 2.00   Pair of bellows & shovel & tongs 1.25   pair of handspun 0.75   light stand & lantern 4.00   1 doz iron plates 0.50   1 doz iron cups & saucers 0.50   Iron pot & sugar bowl 0.25   3 old iron bands & iron kettle 1.00   1 small spade & pair scissors 1.00   Sum over $73.25 

  Annual brought over 75 25   3 old pails & 3 old wash tubs 0 50   2 decanters & 2 tumblers 0 30   6 old bottles & jugs 0 30   1 case & 2 old knives & forks 1 00   1 old hoghead & 2 old coffee pots 1 00   Brown earthen ware 0 50   3 old pewter plates & 16 silver plates 1 00   Old tin ware 0 75   6 iron spoons & 2 white earthen dishes 0 30   2 wash boards & 2 old sickles 0 40   2 old rakes & a pitch fork 0 70   Price of steel yard 1 00   $80 50 
Isaac French
$80 50
Declared & sworn to before me S d Danna Judge
Said French is sixty years old has fourteen children now living, six of whom are at this time dependent on him for their support, his wife who is also living is so infirm as to be unable to do but little labour, he is a blacksmith by trade is wholly dependent on his own labour for his daily support and the support of his family, he is lame by reason of a wound received two years ago which greatly affects him & abridges his labour in a considerable degree, said French at this time is indebted to sundry individuals over & above what he has due to him two hundred dollars, said French served in the Revolution any war over year in Col Baldwin's Regt & Capt Eutaw's company six months in Col Pigeon's Regt & six months in Col Robinson's Regt & Capt Packer's company as well manifestly appear by reference to the evidence in the War department furnished at the time the within named pension certificate was granted.
Isaac French
Declared & sworn to before me S d Danna Judge

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Samuel D. Dike a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
4 I, Nathaniel Dike do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States, on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
Nathaniel Dike
Middlesex ss. C. C. C. P. June Term, A. D. 1820
Then the abovenamed Nathaniel Dike took and subscribed the aforewritten Oath before me,
Sam Dike Judge of said Court.
I, ABRAHAM BIGLOW, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is
seventy  eighty dollars fifty cents  to the  liable to the  decendants  with
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Cambridge, in said County of Middlesex, on this 20 th day of July 1820.
Attr. Abraham Biglow

Nathaniel L. Smith
March 25. 1818
Received of Nathaniel L. Smith the sum of twenty dollars for rent of house
Admitted
For 9 months service in Prigelow's Massachusetts Left } Line

I, Nathaniel French, fifty eight years of age declare and say that I am a resident citizen of the United States; that I reside in & belong to Concord in the County of Middlesex in the Middle Circuit, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; that about June 1777 I enlisted as a private soldier, into the army of the Revolutionary war, for about six months; I entered then in Capt Joshua Parker's company, of Westford, in Colonel Robertson's Reg t & continued in the service, at Rhode Island said time, & then the time of my enlistment expired & I left the service: — That early in the Spring of 1778 I again enlisted as a blacksmith, & entered the Company of Mechanics under Capt. — Eaton in Colonel Laurens Baldwin's Reg t of mechanics; I continued in that service ten months, at Albany, Quenyan's Patent, White Plains, Frederickburgh, Fishkill, & West Point, and then the time of my enlistment expired & I left the service: — That About April 1780 I enlisted again as a private soldier for nine months; & entered in Capt. Pierce's Co y in Colonel Timothy Bigelow's Reg t being the 15 th Reg t in Massachusetts line. I continued in said service during the whole nine months, and a part of the time I was in Capt. Houdin's Co y — When that time expired I left the service by a proper pass, or discharge to return home, from the Officer, which I am not now able to find. I also declare that I am, by reason of my reduced circumstances in life, in need of assistance from my country for support; & that I never had any pension allowed me by the Laws of the United States. Nathaniel French
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Middlesex ss. March 25 th A. D. 1818 Then the above named Nathaniel French made solemn oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is true, before me.
Stephen Minot.
{ Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit

1 1 9 6 I, Reuben French of Billerica, depose & say that I well know the within named Nathaniel French; I also know that in the course of the Revolutionary war he went from home as a soldier or volunteer to go into the army at three several times, & I understood at those times that he was enlisted into the army, & that one of the said times was for six months, one for nine months, and one for one year; & he was gone from home accordingly & I have no doubt but he served in the army for those several times. I also know him to be in need of assistance for support.
Reuben French
Dated at April 18. 1818. Then the above named Reuben French solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true, before me
Stephen Minot { Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas.
The said Nathaniel French also produces the Deposition of Zachariah Goldsmith, taken before Abiel Heywood, & the Deposition of Benjamin Fletcher, taken before Joel Adams, which are hereto annexed. Stephen Minot, Judge as aforesaid.
Whereupon, it appearing to my satisfaction that the said Nathaniel French did serve in the Revolutionary war, as stated in his declaration aforesaid, in the first two indictments, in the years 1777 & 1778, against the common enemy & now that the said Goldsmith, Gage & Dustin are credible witnesses, & I have met the testimony in the case, & the proceedings had thereon to the Secretary of the Department of War, & in need of assistance for support.
Stephen Minot. { Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit.

I Stephen Dustin of Salem N.H. depose & say I was in the service of the United States in the year 1778 in Capt. Eaton's company within mentioned, & I know the within named Nathaniel French was in said company. We joined the company together in the spring of the year & I believe he served till the time of enlistment was out, & have no doubt of all of it.
Stephen Dustin
Enr. Jr. Nov. 30. 1818 - This day the above named Stephen Dustin made solemn oath that the above declaration by him subscribed is true, before me,
Stephen Abbott, Judge, as aforesaid.

I, Benjamin Fletcher of Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do testify and say, That in the year 1777 I was appointed and commissioned a Lieutenant by the Council of The Massachusetts-bay, in New-England - That Capt. Joshua Parker of Westford commanded my Company, and sometime in July in the same year I enlisted Nathaniel French (now of Concord in said County) as a private Soldier in my Company for the term of six months, the time for which my Company was raised - Said French faithfully served in my Company during the whole term of his enlistment and was regularly discharged - My Company was stationed at North Kingston and at other places in the State of Rhode Island - The whole of said term, and belonged to Col. John Robinson's Regiment - That Generals, Shermam and Cornwall were in Command there at that time
see with fore
Benj a Fletcher
Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
Middlesex ss. Chelmsford April 17th 1818 - The the above, named
Benj a Fletcher personally appeared and made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition, by him subscribed contains the truth and nothing but the truth, according to his best knowledge and belief before me
Jacl Adams Justice of the Peace

I, Zachaeus Goldsmith of Andover in the county of Middlesex  Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, testify and say, that Nathaniel French now resident in Concord in the county of Middlesex, & myself were enlisted in the Continental Service, for a year, in the year 1778, into a company of Artificers, by Lt. Jacob Tyler of said Andover, and in the month of April the same year, we marched under said Tyler to the State of New York, and were put under the command of a Captain Eaton, we had the small pox together in the Hospital at Albany, we were at several places, viz. Westpoint, Peck's Hill, Fredericksburgh, &c. and served in the army the whole term of our enlistment, and were regularly discharged —
Zachaeus Goldsmith
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Middlesex ss. Concord, April 4, 1818. Then the above named Zachaeus Goldsmith personally appeared and made solemn oath, that the foregoing deposition, by him subscribed, contains the truth and nothing but the truth, according to the best of his knowledge and belief
before me, Abiel Heywood, Justice of the peace
Essex ss. Haverhill May 4. 1818 Then the above named Zachaeus Goldsmith made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true, before me
Stephen Minot Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit.

March 14, 1940
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Mr. Jack P. Davidson 429 North Monterey Street Alhambra, California
NATHANIEL FRENCH S. 34886 BA-J/MLB
Dear Sir:
Reference is made to your letter in which you request the records of Lieutenant William French, born January 25, 1701, married Joanna Hill, served in 1722 against the Indians, and died April 9, 1778; Sergeant Jacob French, of Billerica, born March 16, 1640, married Mary Champney, fought in the Indian Wars and in King Phillip's War; Lieutenant William French, born in 1603, married Elizabeth _____, served from 1646 to 1650, also the Revolutionary War record of Nathaniel French, who was born April 11, 1760, son of Jonas French and Hannah Paige, enlisted at the age of sixteen years, married Susannah Brown September 11, 1783, and died November 29, 1834.
This office has no record of services rendered in the Colonies prior to the Revolutionary War, hence, no information relative to the two soldiers named William French and to Jacob French described above.
You are furnished herein the record of Nathaniel French, the Revolutionary War soldier, as found in the papers of pension claim, S. 34886, based upon his service in that war.
The date and place of birth of Nathaniel French and names of his parents are not stated.
Nathaniel French enlisted in June, 1777, and served six months as private in Captain Joshua Parker's company, Colonel Robinson's Massachusetts regiment, in Rhode Island. He enlisted early in the spring of 1778, served ten or twelve months as artificer in Captain Eaton's company, Colonel Baldwin's Regiment of Artificers. He enlisted again about April, 1780, and served nine months as private in Captains Pierce's and Houdin's companies, Colonel Timothy Bigelow's Massachusetts regiment.

Nathaniel French was allowed pension on his application executed March 25, 1818, at which time he was aged fifty-eight years and a resident of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
In 1820, while still living in Concord, Massachusetts, the soldier referred to his wife and fourteen children living, but did not state the name of his wife, nor names of any of his children.
Nathaniel French died November 29, 1834, place not shown.
In 1818, one Reuben French was residing in Billerica, Massachusetts, his relationship to Nathaniel French not stated.
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension and name and address of the person paid, you should write to the Comptroller General, General Accounting Office, Records Division, this city, and cite the following data: Nathaniel French, certificate #4935, issued December 10, 1818, rate $3 per month, commenced March 25, 1818, Act of 18th March, 1818, Massachusetts Agency.
Very truly yours
A. D. HILLER Executive Assistant to the Administrator

Concord Ms. March 25 1818
To the Secretary of the Department of War, Sir, Please to transmit the Certificate of my pension under the late law, to Stephen Minot Esqr. of Haverhill Ms. who will forward the same to me. Seth C. French
I, John Gage of Methuen, of lawful age depose & say that I was in the service of the United States in the Army of the Revolutionary war in the years 1778 & 1779. - That I have lately seen Nathaniel French of Concord, Ms. And I think & have no doubt, from his knowledge & recollection of a great many particular occurrences that happened in the army in Col. Baldwin's Reg t from the spring of 1778 to 1779, which he has named to me; & which I think it utterly impossible that any person not there could have described as he has done, that he was in said Reg t that time. I think I did know him there; & have not the least particle of doubt that he was, for the above reason. John Gage
Essex ss. November 24. 1818
Then the above named John Gage made solemn oath that the above deposition by him subscribed is true. Before me
Stephen Minot. { Judge of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the Middle Circuit.

Haverhill Ms. Dec r 1. 1818
To the Hon. Secretary of War,
Dear Sir, I retransmit to you six applications for pensions.
Daniel Bradbury has succeeded to obtain his original discharge, which I enclose. — Nathaniel French has obtained two depositions, in addition to the former as to his service in Baldwin's corps.
And they & also Moses Downing, W m Clough, Nathaniel Soley & Anthony Gilman are all known by me to be very poor & indigent.
I am with due respects, your obedient servant Stephen Minot.

MMH F
February 19, 1927
H. D. French 9 Ashburton Place Boston, Mass.
Sir:
I have to advise you that from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim S. 34886 it appears that Nathaniel French enlisted in June 1777 and served six months as private in Captain Joshua Parker's Company, Colonel John Robinson's Massachusetts Regiment.
He enlisted early in the spring of 1778 and served ten or twelve months as artificer in Captain Eaton's Company, Colonel Baldwin's Regiment of Artificers.
He enlisted in April 1780 and served as private for nine months in Captains Pierce's and Houdin's Companies, Colonel Timothy Bigelow's Massachusetts Regiment.
He was allowed pension on his application executed March 25, 1818 while a resident of Concord, Middlesex County, Massachusetts aged fifty-eight years.
In 1820 he stated that he had a wife and fourteen children then living, but gave no names. (He died March 11, 1844.) error
In order to obtain the date of last payment of pension
The date of d. filia sol. is Nov. 29, 1834. There are two on same roll & the dates in the Agency Book are placed opposite the wrong ones.

and the name of person paid, you should apply to the Civil Division, General Accounting Office, Washington, D.C. citing the following data: "Nathaniel French, Certificate No. 4835, issued December 10, 1818, rate $ 8 per month, commenced March 25, 1818, Act of March 18, 1818, Massachusetts Agency".
Respectfully,
WINFIELD SCOTT Commissioner.

March 2, 1940
Veterans Administration Washington, D. C. Dear Sir:-
I would like to have an abstract of essential items in the pension application of my 3 rd Great Grandfather, Nathanad French. He was born the 11 th April 1760, married Susannah Brown the 11 th September 1783, and died the 29 th November 1834. He enlisted when he was 16 years of age. His father was Jonas French and his mother was Hannah Paige.
I would like this information as I am compiling a family history. He is related to me on my grandmother's side. I thank you very much for your time & trouble.
Sincerely yours. Mr. Jack P. Davidson 429 North Monterey St. Alhambra, California.
P.S. I guess I might as make a request for the rest of them on this letter. over

I would also like an abstract of essential items for each of the following:
(2) Lieut. William French. born. 25 th Jan, 1701, died 9 April 1776, married Joanna Hill 22 Jan 1726. His father was Deacon William French & his mother Sarah Hanforth. He served in war against the Indians, being on the muster roll of 1722. Proo
(3) Sergeant Jacob French from Billerica, was born 16 March 1640, died 20 May 1713, married Mary Chapman 7 th Sept. 1665. His father was Lieut. William French and his mother was Elizabeth —. (Last name unknown). He fought in the Indian Wars and King Phillip's War. Proo
(4) Lieut. William French, of Billerica, was born 13 March 1603, died 20 Nov. 1681, and married Elizabeth — about 1628 or 29. His father was Thomas French and his mother's last name was Word. Lieut. William French also married the second time but I don't know her name. He was a member of the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Co. of Boston. Most First Sergeant 1646, Ensign. 1650. May 26, 1647 his appointment confirmed as Lieut. of Military Co. at Cambridge — Thank you Mr. Jack P. Davidson.

HOWARD D. FRENCH GENEALOGIST 9 ASHBURTON PLACE, BOSTON, MASS.
December 30, 1926.
Pension Dept., Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:-
Will you kindly send me any data that you may have relative to the payees, residence, etc., of Nathaniel French, Middlesex County, Massachusetts (Pg. 177 of Revolutionary Pensioners). I think he lived in Billerica, enlisted from the neighborhood of Concord; was born in 1760 and died in 1834 at Grafton, N. H. If you can, kindly give me date of his first enlistment, etc.
The information given me will be used solely for genealogical purposes and in no way for any claim against the Government.
Thanking you for your kindness, I am,
Very truly yours,
H. D. French

34886 Rev INVALID.
File No. 34886
Nathaniel French Rev Rev Wao
Act: 15 March 18
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 135
[Arrangement of 1870.]
1927 Feb 19 - Hist. to. French French Arch also here to obtain date of last payment etc. 1927 1940 Nov 14 - Hist to Jack Davidson 1940